HEXPAND Africa Secures €1.11M EU Grant

Chuka University, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, is part of a consortium that has secured a €1,110,125 (approximately Ksh. 170 million) European Union grant. The grant will support digital transformation, innovation and higher education reforms in Kenya and Tanzania.
The grant has been awarded under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE) programme for the expanding and Transforming Higher Education Systems through EdTech and Innovation Ecosystems (HEXPAND Africa) project.

The three-year initiative seeks to support systemic modernization and reform of Higher Education systems in Tanzania and Kenya, strengthening their capacity to harness EdTech for quality education, digital skills development, innovation and employability. The HEXPAND Africa consortium brings together higher education institutions, government agencies and international partners from Kenya, Tanzania, Italy and Greece. The project is coordinated by the University of Nairobi, with Chuka University as one of the key institutional partners. Other partners include the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania, and Stimmuli for Social Change, Greece.

At Chuka University, the project team is overseen by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Henry Mutembei, and is led by the Principal Investigator, Dr. Zipporah Muthui. Other members of the research team are Prof. Eunice Githae, Prof. Eric Njagi, Dr. William Ndeke, ICT Manager Charles Kinyua, Prof. Joel Gichumbi and Dr. John Kirimi. The grant marks another significant milestone in Chuka University’s growing engagement in international research and innovation partnerships. It further demonstrates the University’s commitment to leveraging research, technology and strategic partnerships to contribute to the transformation of higher education in Kenya and beyond.